Pet Friendly Hotels New England to Florida (Jacksonville, Sarasota: condo, floor)

[bfernandes25]

Hi, everyone, we are planning to travel by car from New Hampshire to North Port at the end of the month with our three fur baby cats. Looking for recommendations for hotels along the way. Hoping to push through with one overnight, but, also understand it could be more. Any hotel advice, or any other tips, are greatly appreciated!

[Trying941]

Originally Posted by bfernandes25

Hi, everyone, we are planning to travel by car from New Hampshire to North Port at the end of the month with our three fur baby cats. Looking for recommendations for hotels along the way. Hoping to push through with one overnight, but, also understand it could be more. Any hotel advice, or any other tips, are greatly appreciated!

Bringfido.com is a great resource.

[loves2read]

La Quinta usually allows pets without a surcharge
But you need to check specific ones

[Variable]

petswelcome is a web site which lists hotels that accept pets. It even has more detail, so as hotels that accept large dogs or hotels that accept cats.

[rfomd129]

We travel with three dogs and always use Residence Inns. There is an extra charge but it's worth it to us for the extra room and their acceptance of all three of our small dogs even though their policy usually states two dogs. There's also a kitchen area in their suites so we can eat comfortably in the room without leaving the dogs.

[Ghaati]

Originally Posted by bfernandes25

Hi, everyone, we are planning to travel by car from New Hampshire to North Port at the end of the month with our three fur baby cats. Looking for recommendations for hotels along the way. Hoping to push through with one overnight, but, also understand it could be more. Any hotel advice, or any other tips, are greatly appreciated!

I would just dismiss the idea of one overnight. From New Hampshire, I'd make it 3 nights. Cats don't "go for walks" when they need the bathroom. You can't feed or water them in the car, because they'll still need a litterbox shortly after they eat or drink. Keeping them cooped up in a cage for 12-14 hours at a time with no food or water or litterbox is absolutely cruel.

Holiday Inn and Choice Hotels both have pet-friendly options between New Hampshire and Sarasota. Plus, they have rewards clubs so you can earn points toward free night stays (and Choice offers other perks as well).

[rfomd129]

Originally Posted by Ghaati

I would just dismiss the idea of one overnight. From New Hampshire, I'd make it 3 nights. Cats don't "go for walks" when they need the bathroom. You can't feed or water them in the car, because they'll still need a litterbox shortly after they eat or drink. Keeping them cooped up in a cage for 12-14 hours at a time with no food or water or litterbox is absolutely cruel.

Holiday Inn and Choice Hotels both have pet-friendly options between New Hampshire and Sarasota. Plus, they have rewards clubs so you can earn points toward free night stays (and Choice offers other perks as well).

Good point. I've never traveled with cats but I actually think traveling with dogs is easier because they're used to "going" in new places and being outside often. I missed the part about the OP wanting to do it with just one overnight stay. Not a good idea.

[Cuzzant]

We have “snow birded” in FL for a few years. We used to travel from the NE to FL with our cat (until we had to put him down last year ). He was neutered, also, and travelled from age 5 - 12. We had a large collapsible nylon “condo” in the back seat, litter box on floor behind passenger seat, and of course food, water, treats and toys. Our cat did not like to travel, but after an hour or so, he would settle, and lay down in his condo. I always dreaded driving with him, but it was so nice to have him with us for those 2 months. He was never alone in the car.

Restroom stops were a quick 5 minutes and we were on our way after alternating using the restroom. We planned our gas stops to coincide with lunch. We always stopped at a service plaza that had a Subway shop. I’d fill up, then get our sandwiches and drinks and go back in the car to eat. We would offer him something to eat or drink, but he refused. Also, he would not use the litter box. There were a few occasions where he jumped up on top of the back seat and sat next to the window (had a standard size car). Most times it was no problem to “coax” him back into the condo.

Since he didn’t use the litter box, I would never drive more than 7 hours at a time. We would then check into a pet friendly motel, settle in, make sure he ate and did his business. Then we would get gas for the next day, go out for supper as he lounged in the room. Rinse and repeat. We always spent 2 nights driving down.

La Quinta motels were pet friendly, clean, comfortable and very reasonable. AND a free breakfast to boot. I would check in, get room keys and we would take an overnight bag separate from our other luggage, the cat carrier, litter box, bowls, food, toys (all in a box) and load everything on a luggage cart and go to the room. I’d then park the car close to our room. The next morning, cart all the stuff out to the car, and drive another 7 hours.

When in hotel room, make sure the cat cannot get under, or behind, the bed. It will be next to impossible to get him out. Think tuna, shrimp or lobster.

Also, never open the car door without eyes (and maybe hands) on the cat. We always made sure he was in the condo or carrier before opening a car door.

Once we arrived in FL, he would only need a few hours to get comfortable and feel at home. Of course, the week before we were returning home, I would start to feel anxious about the ride, but it always worked out.

I know people will get upset over this statement, but there were a few times when he would sit on my wife’s lap for hours and just purr as she pet him. He didn’t like the movement of the car, and felt safe in her lap.

We did get some type of sedative from the vet, but it never really seemed to help.

If you want to know more, just message me. Good luck. I think it’s worth it.

EDIT - I hate to drive on I95. We would take I81 from PA into MD, WVA, and VA. Stop in southern VA for the night, then take 81 to I77 to I26 to I95 and stop in Pooler SC for the night, then I95 to Jacksonville FL then I10 west to 301 S to I75 down to Sarasota. It’s about 40 minutes longer, but we are only on 95 for about 250 miles

[Tulippsy]

We moved our three cats from Pennsylvania to Florida last week. We took three days to make the trip, driving about 6 hours a day. It’s much easier on the cats. The Red Roof Inn chain is pet friendly and doesn’t charge a pet fee. They also allow up to three animals. Ask for a ground floor room near one of the outside exits. Also be sure whatever hotel you use has platform type beds that the cats can’t get under.

We allow the cats to be free inside the vehicle. They whine and crawl around for a bit then settle down. We have a litter box on the floor in the back seat. Our three have moved from Oregon to Pennsylvania, and now to Florida. It’s not the most fun I’ve had in my lifetime, but it can be done!